I had another echocardiogram a couple months ago to check on my murmur. When I went to get my records for social security the hospital included the cardiology report. Someone I know, who is a nurse, read it and explained it…. NOT OFFICIALLY! The understanding of it is that I have two small murmurs, and I have some enlargement of my heart. Now, whether this is lupus or not, and what level of concern this is, I’ll find out on Sept. 11.

I’m still on prednisone because I ccan’t go below 5mg without neurological symptoms starting up. I’m pushing for a neuro work up when I see my rheumy.

I’m having a ton of foot pain…. the doctor I saw at the walk-in clinic thinks it is from my lupus, attacking the stationary joints in my foot. Xrays have been taken and I’ll find out more on the 11th.

Lupus just seems to be out to get me, even when I’m on 3 meds strictly for putting it into remission 😦

The kids are great. Gamer started HS this year, and Duckling is in her last year of elementary school.

So, it has been longer than I’d like to think about since I last blogged. There’s been a lot. Another disability denial, getting my medical care underway, working (VERY) parttime, doing crafty things and finishing projects.

There have also been skin biopsies.

I have A LOT of moles. So many that there is actually a name for a person whose skin is in the condition mine is in.

And so far, the three we have results for have all been precancerous. One was bigger than the resident who did that specific biopsy thought, so it had to be redone. The latest one to be done (on my hip/thigh area, near my buttock) is looking like the scariest one yet. This is biopsy set 2, and mole #4 to be biopsied. My doctor was very concerned when he saw it. I don’t know if it will turn out to be cancerous or just a higher level of precancer, but either way, it’s worrying.

So that’s the latest in my journey through life.

Oh, and it’s melanoma that all of this is pointing to, so the most serious of the skin cancers.

I saw a new doctor (Rheumatologist, Internist, Nutritionist) on Wednesday. I’m not sure what I think. Johnny will be going with me to my next appt, and asking his own questions to settle his own mind, then we’ll decide.

I am really more comfortable with the conventional treatments than with what this guy offers, but if he can set mine and Johnny’s minds at ease, we’ll move forward with him.

I did my labs for him today (a blood test and urinalysis)… it took 3 pokes this time to get into a vein, and then the blood was moving so slowly that she had to take off the one vial and put on another, and got the amount between the two. It hurt pretty bad too… I’m expecting bruises on at least one any time, though since she couldn’t get into that vein, it may not bruise?